Chapter 5: You're mine
Disclaimer: No, nope, nu-uh, I don't own Artemis Fowl. Never did, never will, only Eion Colfer shall and forever will.
A/N: I'm extremely sorry for the inconvenience. You must remember I'm human too, and that I do have a life, however dull it may be. Thank you for your support!
LEP HEADQUARTERS
Foaly's face was gazing at her with such sincerity and concern; it was as if she was standing before an entirely different centaur. At the moment, Holly vaguely wished that his ill-timed humor was there to distract her from the dark reflection which occupied her thoughts. Problem was, the Commander paid no heed to them, rather provoked them with unnecessary questions.
"Holly, what the hell is that!" was his first greeting. Foaly's wasn't much better.
"Looks like a bloody carcass. And I'm not swearing." Not a good pun.
"That's a bit obvious, don't you think?" Holly tapped the table for attention.
"It doesn't matter. What the real question is why the Captain didn't bury it. A long time ago."
Holly interrupted. "It's alive." Root furrowed his brow.
"Captain, I'm not in the mood."
"I have to agree, Holly no offense, with Julius. Either you dropped a few marbles or-."
"Listen to me." Holly snapped. "The reason he isn't dead is because he can't be. For if he was 'dead' as you so nicely put it, how am I alive? Yes, this is a colorful twist but we have a maniac who threatens our entire species. Yet here you are, squabbling like children, when, when—."
Holly felt only turmoil. She was the one acting like a child. The one who saw a murder play right before her eyes. Using Root and Foaly as an outlet for her frustration would only lose her badge. No one knew how to deal with a virus. You just watch your friends fall slowly one by one, and yet you can only stare. Plopping herself onto a chair, she waited for a cue to speak. None came.
"I'm certain of this. He's in a coma, is all." Root blinked twice. "I was there." she added.
"If I could run some tests-." Foaly was interrupted by a flash on the monitor. Quickly he clopped over, expression becoming grimmer by the second. "Holly, leave the body here." She opened her mouth to protest, but Foaly cut her off. He did not need to, for the stench did it for her. "Suspicious activity, an unauthorized time stop; this need to be searched immediately." He mumbled a small snort. "That can't be right. My sensors should have picked this up already."
"What should've been picked up?" Root grumbled.
"Time stop. Fourteen days."
After manipulating the keyboard for another few precious seconds, he finally dismissed Holly with the wave of a hand. "Gather some recruits. Maps are installed and all. I need time to figure this out." He didn't take too kindly that someone was able to deceive his computers. Root rolled his eyes.
"Foaly, regain your dignity later. Kindly find a cure for the virus before it finds me."
"Fine. Holly, it would be of great help if you can tell me his symptoms before he— Short?" Holly had already left.
Holly nervously checked a glance at the on screen map. The suspects hide-out was near E1, Tara chutes launching pad. At an abandoned warehouse... this didn't look good.
WAREHOUSE
Artemis wanted to scream. He wanted to shout vulgar words, throw childish fits, and strangle Koboi's neck. Though it was quite certain none of these options would occur. Actually, he really did not have any options, just a lively (not to mention infuriated) imagination.
What frustrated him so was frankly Koboi herself. Her intentions were clear one second, then portrayed another or different way the next. Artemis couldn't even predict, adapt, nor understand anything that was going on. He could only be helpless. A helpless Artemis; that didn't sound right.
"Guess what, Arty?" Opal showed pointy white teeth. 'Arty' sneered in response.
"Tisk, tisk. No need for that attitude, do we now?" Artemis glowered at her. Opal narrowed her brow, her tone not as light as before. "I need your cooperation. Artemis." She spat out the name like poison. "Tell you what. I mind-wipe you, you go about your 'la-de-da way', infect billions of mud men, and I can go about my 'har-de-har' path home. All right with you?"
"I'd rather."
"Fine." Opal picked up a knife from a nearby table. Artemis writhed in his chair, shifting uneasily. She stepped beside him, and in one quick motion, slashed the ropes imprisoning his left arm. After rummaging in her coat, she drew out a magnum, holding it out with her palm outstretched. "Take it. Your choice." She threw it on the ground, just within his reach. And with that, she turned to leave and began walking. "But make it quick because the LEP are coming to fetch you this very instant. And you don't want your dear little Holly to be covered in gore. It'll make such a mess."
Opal cast a curious glance at Artemis. She saw panic register on his pale visage, and his hand... reaching for the gun. No... She thought. Artemis is mine. I-, I won't let him... He pulled the safety catch. Mine alone. Opal grasped an object off the table and hurled it, a small stone, clipping the side of his skull. He slipped sharply into unconscious, his body striking the floor with a resounding thud. Koboi snatched the magnum that he dropped, holding it level with Artemis's head. After a tense moment, she gritted her teeth and her arm eased to her side. Placing it back into the holster strapped snugly to her thigh, she knelt beside him, absentmindedly stroking his arm. You're mine...
